July 18

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12

Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
11. A H S G F A S U T M B T L A B T L P B A A G A S W R T M A B I P T R B T L B T L W N I T W A A T W A E B T L W N I T E
12. A A T E A F B T L W N I T F A A T F A S S V

Notes on verses:

1 Kings 19:11 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake:”

“The Lord passed by”: The 3 phenomena, wind, earthquake and fire, announced the imminent arrival of the Lord (Exodus 19:16-19; Psalm 18:7-15; Hab. 3:3-6). The Lord’s self-revelation to Elijah came in a faint, whispering voice (verse 12). The lesson for Elijah was that Almighty God was quietly, sometimes imperceptibly, doing His work in Israel (verse 18).

The strong wind has been mentioned many times in connection with the LORD. We know the rushing mighty wind brought the tongues of fire that sat on them at Pentecost. We also know that it was not unusual for the LORD to be associated with an earthquake. At Mount Sinai, we had seen this. On this particular occasion, the LORD was not in these. The forces of nature are generally so magnificent, that they cause people to bow to the LORD.

1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

As he was when he descended on this mount, and spoke to Moses (Exodus 19:1). The Targum, and so Jarchi, interprets all these appearances of angels. And not amiss; the wind, of a host of angels of wind. The earthquake, of a host of angels of commotion. The fire, of a host of angels of fire (see Psalm 104:4). These ministers of the Lord went before him, to prepare the way of his glorious Majesty; which emblems may represent the power of God, the terribleness of his majesty. And the fury of his wrath, which he could display, if he would, to the destruction of his enemies. And could as easily destroy the idolatrous kingdom of Israel, which Elijah seems to be solicitous of, as the wind rent the mountains, and broke the rocks. And the earthquake shook the earth, and the fire consumed all in its way. But he chose not to do it now, but to use leniency, and show mercy, signified by the next emblem.

“And after the fire a still small voice”: Not rough, but gentle, more like whispering than roaring; something soft, easy, and musical. The Targum is, the voice of those that praise God in silence. And all this may be considered as showing the difference between the two dispensations of law and Gospel. The law is a voice of terrible words, and was given amidst a tempest of wind, thunder, and lightning, attended with an earthquake (Hebrews 12:18). But the Gospel is a gentle voice of love, grace, and mercy, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ. And may also point at the order and manner of the Lord’s dealings with the souls of men, who usually by the law breaks the rocky hearts of men in pieces, shakes their consciences, and fills their minds with a sense of fiery wrath and indignation they deserve. And then speaks comfortably to them, speaks peace and pardon through the ministration of the Gospel by his Spirit. Blessed are the people that hear this still, small, gentle voice, the joyful sound (Psalm 89:15).

Our God is a consuming fire. Elijah had experienced that at Mount Carmel. He is a still quiet voice to bring peace to Elijah here. I have discovered that the LORD is whatever we need at the time of our crises. Elijah had been a teacher of the people through signs and wonders. God had shown him signs and wonders here as well.

Zechariah 4:6 “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

July 18
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
2 Chronicles 13-16  —  7.5 minutes
Psalms 143  —  3.0 minutes

New Testament
Luke 11:14-28  —  3.5 minutes
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28  —  2.5 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 16.5 minutes